I was running two trais on my layout , both pulled by BLI steam engines with Quantum sound, and using my MRC Prodigy Express DCC sytem.
Both trains stopped, but the sound systems kept working.,
but neither engine would move.
I turned off the power, and replaced the engines with two other BLI engines, both sound equipped.
Same situation, sound, but engines wouldn’t move.
Next step was to disconnect my Prodigy Express system and hooked up my Bachmann Easy Command
system I use for another small train layout I have.
My BLI engines once again ran just fine, and all sound systems worked.
Apparently my Prodigy Express system has had some kind of failure.
I intend to send it in for repair through the LHS where I bought it, less than a year ago.
Now I have another question.
If I were to purchase a second Prodigy Express system, and my other system returns from repairs, can I use them together on the same layout?
I would eventually like to run 4 trains on my DCC layout.
Right now, part of my reasoning is this would also give me a second hand held to run a second train without having to change the adresss on the only handheld I have now.
The short answer is no, you can’t have two separate DCC systems connected to the same track at the same time. What you would do if you needed another throttle is, well, buy another throttle. If you need more amperage (power to the tracks), you’d buy a booster.
However, I don’t know if the PE is capable of accepting either a second throttle or a booster so I’d have to second David’s suggestion. Buy a (very expandable) Zephyr and stop worrying whether or not your DCC system has an upgrade path.
Out of curiosity, did you try just one engine, instead of two? I have a Prodigy Advance, and have run five engines simultaineosly, and could probably run more, but I don’t know what the Express can do. Perhaps it was an amperage issue, although I would think the Express could handle two.
To answer the question, you certianly could use both throttles with the Express, but the power unit would be simply a spare, not a bad idea either. I’d consider an Advance, as you’d get more amperage, a few more features, and an extra throttle. You’d still have the Express power unit as a backup.
I bought my Advance used for about $130, and have had no problems in over three years. In fact I just bought another used one for $118 that is in better shape physically, Because the price was so good, I couldn’t pass it up, just to have as a backup and get another throttle.
Actually the prodigy can handle more than 15 walkarounds. I think it runs circles around the zephyr. It has more functions (15 vs. 8) than the digtrax and has a remote walkaround and it has easier upgrade capabilities than either NCE or Digitrax. So stick with what you own.
Zephyr has a cheap computer connection (also gives all 28 functions…which is MORE than the Express [8D]). You also get more functions depending on the throttle plugged in. MRC has announced a computer connection, but it costs more than some DCC systems!
Zephyr has more Amps (2.5 vs 1.6). With 15 operators, each operator would get .1 amps. How is that useful at all?
Upgrading the Express will reqire getting over it’s biggest drawback; amperage. This requires a purchase of a Booster or an Advance system. Either way, you are spending way too much.
The Express also has issues with most Reversing Loop controllers. They have a trip current higher than the Express it’self.
David may I add to your last post that it is impossible with the Express to consist engines back to back, unless someone is constantly fiddling with CV29.
In this category of starters systems there are only two worth mentioning, the Zephyr and the PowerCab.
The Zephyr offers a whopping 0.06 amps more !!! How is that useful at all?
[}:)] And, yes, I am being sarcastic.
Even if you have a Zephyr, if you want more power, you have to buy a booster, or upgrade to the next system – the Super Empire Builder or the Super Chief.
Here’s a question… If you have a Zephyr and you buy the Super Empire Builder or the Super Chi
It is a very good presumption. With decoders that are becomming more and more complicated every day with more and more CVs, it is ver preferable to have a computer connection. The lack of one is a major concern when deciding in a DCC system. What takes a person an hour with a non-computer connected DCC system will take about 5 seconds with a system connected to a computer. If you can browse these forums, you can program a decoder with a computer.
The Zephyr only supports an additional 9 cabs. So that is still .25 amps each. Doable, but with not alot of head room. To be serious here, if you have a layout that requires more than, say, 3 throttles, you need to look at something a bit more powerful
Yes, if you want more power with ANY DCC system you need to purchase either a more power system or booster. In the case of the Zephyr, it’s 2.5 amp capacity i
Absolutely! Plus, you can use the 2.5 amp output of the Zephyr as a seperate power district.
MRC is finally catching on here. With Digitrax, you have to go all the way back to the Challenger set to find a throttle that can not be used with current Digitrax command stations, and even so, the command station from the Challenger set can be used as a booster with current command stations. With MRC, if you had a Command 2000 and wanted to upgrade to the original Prodigy, you could not use the command station or throttles. If upgrading from the Command 2000 or original Prodigy to any of the current Prodigy systems, again, you could not use the command station or throttles.
For the most part. The wireless throttles can not be used on the other systems without the wireless interface. At first this may seem trivial, but if you have a Prodigy Advanced Wireless system and have a friend that has one of the other Prodigy systems, you can not take your throttle to your friends layout and pl
That’s not entirely true… If you have the MRC Prodigy Wireless Conversion Kit (which includes the wireless throttle and plug-in receiver unit to convert an existing wired Prodigy system to wireless) you could take the plug-in receiver unit to your friend’s house and plug it into his system. Then you can use both your wireless and his wired throttles on the same system at the same time.
Two of things that I like about the MRC Prodigy Wireless system are :
Program, acquire and run your locos & accessories from a wireless handheld, just like wired.
No need to plug & unplug every time you want to program a loco. Digitrax requires you to plug your throttle in each time you want to acquire/drop/program a locomotive. That can be such a hassle; and expensive since you need to have a place to “plug-in” – the larger the layout, the more such "plug-in"s you’ll need.
Another MRC falicy. You only have to plug in the current radio system to aquire/dispatch locomotives. For programming, you do NOT have to plug in. I do it all the time. Guess what MRCophiles…Digitrax will be delivering their Duplex radio system next month.
What pisses me off to the bone are statements like “that can be such a hassle” or "and expensive since you need to have a place to ‘plug’ in", sound like a second rate infomercial. These statements are found in EVERY MRC ADVERTISEMENT. It seems as though that MRCophoiles keeps saying these thing as a mauntra to convince themselves that they made a good choice.
First off, it is NOT a hassle. A hassle to me is spending 280 dollars on a computer connection or having decoders that dont work 50% of the time and having to call a tech support line who doesnt think that their products are faulty in any way shape or form.
Secondly, last time I checked, you can buy 3 UP5s for 1 MRC Expansion port. Expensive? I think not. Want to talk expensive? Lets talk about monies wasted in MRC products.
Actually, what I said is entirely true. “The wireless throttles can not be used on the other systems without the wireless interface.” If you have the kit, then yes, you can take the wireless interface with you. The point is, the wireless throttle can not be used without it. Another problem I have with this design is if you have a problem with the wireless, such as interference, you can not plug in the throttle and operate tethered.
[quote user=“chateauricher”]
Two of things that I like about the MRC Prodigy Wireless
Hmmm…why not go with another system? An NCE Power Pro or Digitrax Zephyr will run circles around the Express any day. David B
You are not comparing apples to apples. The MRC PE is positioned both price-wise and feature-wise between the ProCab/Zephyr and the Bachmann EZ DCC. The Prodigy Express is a significant step up from the Bachmann, yet street price is $40 less than the ProCab/Zephyr. It is the cheapest, close-to-full feature DCC system available (lacks CV readback and a reasonable computer interface).
As has been pointed out, the OP can add a Prodigy Advance Squared (PA2) throttle to his PE system and obtain a second throttle with all the additional features of the PA2. This is the lowest cost expansion to the OP’s stated desired end state (2 handheld throttles), yet gives him CV readback and increased number of functions. As long as the limited power of the PE and lack of an affordable computer interface is not a restriction for the OP, the option is a pretty good one for the price, despite your disdain for MRC DCC products.
The downside of just adding an MRC throttle is the limited further expansion path for the PE without replacing some components. Once the OP is into replacing the PE, then and only then should a cost/benefit comparison of all potential systems be performed.
One issue raised in this thread is the limited power of the PE which is only 1.6 amps. That can be increased to 2.5 for a fee of $25 including return shipping. I sent mine to MRC for that up-grade and it came back in 2 weeks with a 3.5 amp power supply so now I have a total of $140 into the system.
As I see it all is a matter of personal preferences. For me the Zephyr was out of the running even though I agree it is a good system but it is a base station unit and I wanted something I could walk about a bit with. I’m sure that a computer interface is a requirement for some who have many decoders or are professional installers but I have only 7 locos and likely won’t buy many more into the future so buying another computer to use something like Decoder Pro isn’t really a useful option, not to mention the time to learn it and my time is limited for my hobby.
As always, it is often a matter of personal preferences.
I am impressed. Add phrophecy to your list of talents - the first quote appeared 2 days before the post it was allegedly responding to. The first quote is the second post in the entire thread.
I’m not sure why you have it in for the MRC Prodigy Express/Prodigy Advance Squared/Prodigy Wireless systems. Be that as it may, advising the OP dump his PE is certainly a lot more expensive alternative than expanding his PE. The recommended expansions (adding a PA2 throttle, and having MRC upgrade the power to 3.5 amps) for $105 gives the OP everything that $250-300 (starter system plus 2nd throttle plus computer interface) to NCE or Digitrax would give him except the computer interface.
For you (and perhaps I will get there, too), the computer interface is critical. But I wonder how many PowerCab or Zephy owners actually buy and use a computer interface. I’m willing to bet the percentage is well under 50%. They are apparently satisfied to do whatever programming they do with their throttles. MRC believes the market for non-computer interface systems is big enough. NCE apparently believed the same - how many years was it before a computer interface was available for the PowerCab?
Do you have a computer interface? Have you used one? Have you used JMRI? If so, why wouldnt you recommend a connection for your DCC system?
An analogy I use for a computer to DCC connection is the comparision of a Typewriter to a Word Processor on a computer.
With a Typewriter (DCC system without a computer connection), everything is manual including erasing and spell check. It is prone to errors because of the manual input. If you make a mistake, it is difficult to fix, and typically you need to start with a new page (decoder reset). If you loose that page (Decoder information), you have to start over. If you dont have it written down somewhere, you loose your information; hence no reference.
With a Word Processor, a lot is automatic; spell check, indenting, bolding, underlining…etc. If you make a mistake, you can hit the delete key and continue. If you wish to change your document, you just load it up and make changes. You can save your work at any time as a reference and reprint it at any time on a new sheet of paper (decoder).
To continue with the analogy, modern documents (decoders) are getting longer with longer words and complex sentences. There are absolutely more opertunities to make mistakes. With manual input, mistakes are plenty and troublesome.
I agree with what you have written about the benefits of a computer interface. But the desirabilty/need depends upon the user’s situation. If I’m only writing one letter every two months, the word processor is not necessarily worth the extra costs in terms of learning curve and upfront costs - especially if I already own a typewriter.
In your case, where you are installing sound decoders on a regular basis, a computer interface is an absolute necessity. I would not want to do without Decoder Pro for even 2 Tsunami decoders. But with just 1 Tsunami decoder, the extra $200 to switch DCC systems and obtain 2 throttles and an interface is a questionable investment. And that is my situation. I have only one locomotive large enough (a small 2-8-0) to accommodate a high bass speaker and Micro-Tsunami. My small geared lokies (Class A Shays and Climaxes) won’t do it, nor will my 19th Century 4-4-0s. And even if I could have more than 1 engine with sound, would I want to spend 5 months of hobby allowance to gain the use of Decoder Pro? Would I want more than 1 engine with sound on a 7ft x 10ft layout? So for $200, can I live with writing down my CVs for a total of 6 engines, one with sound? Can I live with crossing out on the paper as I try new values to tweak my Micro-Tsunami?
Bottom line: one size does not fit all. For many, a computer interface is an incredibly important part of the DCC experience. For others, it is questionable whether the benefits outweigh the costs.
